Updating a previous report, San Diego Chargers president Dean Spanos denied a report that stated the team has decided to fire general manager A.J. Smith and head coach Norv Turner after the season. Spanos said he has not made a decision at this point and will evaluate their job statuses at the end of the season.

San Diego Chargers head coach Norv Turner and general manager A.J. Smith will both be fired after the end of the regular season. President Dean Spanos had decided about a month ago that Turner's time was up but only recently convinced himself to do the same with Smith. There will be no last-minute change of plans like before, according to a source close to Spanos' plans. Current director of player personnel Jimmy Raye is the favorite to take over as GM.

San Diego Chargers general manager A.J. Smith said if the team does not turn their season around in the last 10 games of the season, there will be changes ahead. "I take full responsibility for the present mess this team is in at this point in time," Smith said. "The construction and direction of this organization is on my watch. In the next 10 games we will either rally and see a slow, steady rise from the ashes to a division championship – or the beginning of a new era in Chargers' football."

San Diego Chargers general manager A.J. Smith will likely be safe for the long term, even if the team misses the playoffs for a third straight season. Head coach Norv Turner would likely be fired before Smith were to lose his post.

San Diego Chargers general manager A.J. Smith said he could not believe LB Melvin Ingram was still on the board at the No. 18 pick in the NFL Draft. "I consider this a part of luck," Smith said, "because when I see what I consider a bonus pick, outside our cluster, it's luck. He's a mean, nasty man, extremely physical with a great motor."

Some NFL owners, including San Diego Chargers' Dean Spanos, feel that agents are beginning to have a tremendous amount of influence over teams around the league. "Agents have a lot of control over different teams," Spanos said. "It's a bad situation, where certain teams are controlled by agents with key coaches and key players. It's certainly a problem we need to continue to address ... There are other owners that feel the same." Chargers general manager A.J. Smith, however, said he does not allow his team to be manipulated by an agent. "An agent is only powerful, manipulative and influential if you allow it," Smith said. "There is no 'we' in the (agent-team) relationship. The most important aspect of this whole deal is the team. That's all that ever matters."

Updating a previous item, the San Diego Chargers have assigned an unknown price they would be willing to pay for Houston Texans impending free-agent LB Mario Williams. The team did talk with Ben Dogra, Williams' agent, at the NFL Scouting Combine; however, it is not known if Williams was discussed. General manager A.J. Smith has stressed his "philosophy has not changed" regarding free agency, neither he nor anyone else will rule out the team pursuing Williams.

San Diego Chargers general manager A.J. Smith hinted Friday, March 2, that the team isn't likely to apply the franchise tag to impending free-agent WR Vincent Jackson, but added that the move is still an option. "Right now, I'm not real comfortable with what I see for a tag, but we haven't ruled it out yet because we have so much to do, and we have different levels of plans that we do with different scenarios," Smith said. Smith did confirm, however, that Jackson is the sole member of the Chargers who is being considered for the tag.

San Diego Chargers owner and team president Dean Spanos said he addressed concerns about quirks in general manager A.J. Smith's personality, namely his reclusive nature, when deciding not to fire him Tuesday, Jan. 3. "He needs to improve in that area and he is going to," Spanos said. "He knows what he has to do."

San Diego Chargers owner and president Dean Spanos admitted general manager A.J. Smith's decision to let New Orleans Saints RB Darren Sproles leave as a free agent last offseason was a mistake. "That is a decision that I put on A.J.," Spanos said. "I was supportive of it at the time. Obviously, you can go back to five or six decisions that we made were wrong."

The fates of San Diego Chargers general manager A.J. Smith and head coach Norv Turner may not be decided immediately. Team president Dean Spanos is said to have struggled with what to do about Smith. He has long been a believer in Turner and credits Smith with the bulk of the decisions that have shaped the franchise into a perennial contender. Spanos could decide to keep Smith, yet suggest some changes in how he operates and how the personnel department goes forward. For all his faith in Turner, Spanos might also suggest some changes in how the coach goes about managing a game.

Few believe former NFL head coach Jon Gruden will be the next head coach of the St. Louis Rams. According to multiple sources, Gruden won't be inclined to coach in St. Louis, for a variety of reasons (including but not limited to the climate). Moreover, few believe that Gruden could work with current San Diego Chargers general manager A.J. Smith, who has also been rumored to be on his way to St. Louis. "They would obliterate each other with ego," one league source said.

People familiar with St. Louis Rams owner Stan Kroenke's plans said Monday, Dec. 26, that Kroenke is waiting for the San Diego Chargers to make a move on general manager A.J. Smith. If Smith is available, league and agent sources strongly indicated that Smith will be hired as Rams' general manager and bring along Jon Gruden as head coach.

San Diego Chargers team President Dean Spanos said Saturday, Dec. 24, that he won't make a decision on what to do with head coach Norv Turner and general manager A.J. Smith until after the Jan. 1 season finale against the Oakland Raiders. "I'm waiting until next week," Spanos said.

The San Diego Chargers' current three-game win streak could help save the jobs of head coach Norv Turner and general manager A.J. Smith. In team president Dean Spanos' judgment, the players have clearly not given up on Turner.

San Diego Chargers general manager A.J. Smith was critical of comments made by New York Jets RB LaDainian Tomlinson regarding QB Philip Rivers. Tomlinson said Rivers may be struggling with the idea of being the leader of the team. Smith fired back by alluding to Tomlinson's final season-plus in San Diego, in which the running back struggled with a diminished role. "I agree with what LT said about it's hard being the guy," Smith said. "But I think it's a lot harder when it's no longer your team, and you're not the guy."

San Diego Chargers general manager A.J. Smith does not regret the blockbuster draft deal he orchestrated in 2004 when he traded QB Eli Manning to the New York Giants for QB Philip Rivers, even though Manning and the Giants won a Super Bowl after the 2007 season. Smith believes it absolutely was the right move. "I believe with my heart and soul that he one day will lead the Chargers to a world championship," Smith said. "He's a great quarterback - a phenomenal leader with great character, great work habits."

The San Diego Chargers are in need of upgrades at defensive end, outside linebacker, inside linebacker and wide receiver in this year's NFL Draft, reports Scott Bair, of the North County Times. They would also like to add depth at offensive tackle and safety.

The Chargers have three picks in the first two rounds, picking No. 18, No. 50 and No. 61 overall. With those three early selections, the Chargers could fill some pressing needs or general manager A.J. Smith could look to package some of the picks together to move up in the NFL Draft. "There are opportunities out there in this draft to make an impact in the second round if we stand pat. I understand the marquee part of this process is the first round, and the second round falls right behind that," Smith said. "When you have multiple selections like we do, you have a chance to look pretty good or doubly good. I either have two chances to get it right or two chances to mess it up. It depends on your perspective."

Smith wouldn't tip his hand in regards to what he plans to do with the extra second-round selections, but noted he enjoys having the options.